ISLAMABAD: Last week, the employees of the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE), protested against the chairperson, Shaheen Khan, and also announced a boycott due to which Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations, starting from March 18, could be delayed.

A clash took place between the employees and some outsiders, which prompted the education secretary to intervene.

Subsequently, Shaheen Khan was sent on forced leave and FBISE Secretary Rao Attique was appointed the acting chairperson.

Senator Saeeda Iqbal, who belongs to PPP, asked the government to take notice of the mismanagement in FBISE and appoint a competent person as the chairperson.

She was addressing a news conference at the National Press Club on Sunday.

Senator Iqbal, who is a well-known educationist, said most of the officers in the board had been violating laws and creating hurdles.

“There should be an environment of education in the board. Unfortunately, qualified persons are not working in the board so most of the visitors and representatives of private schools have complained about the attitude of the FBISE staff,” she said.

Majority of the private institutions were in favour of Ms Khan, due to which they have decided to raise their voice against her removal.

Member of Board of Governors, FBISE, Shahid Mansoor, who represents private schools, alleged that some corrupt officers had hijacked the board and were trying to run it according to their wishes.

“The staff of the board not only protested, but also tortured women and students who visited the board to inquire about the roll number slips,” he said, adding that an FIR was also lodged against the employees of the board but no arrests have been made.

“We do not have a personal grudge with any person; we just demand that well-educated people should be appointed at important posts in FBISE. Officers, who do not have an educational background, have made a routine to misbehave with principals and students,” he said.

President of Private School Colleges Association Dr Mohammad Afzal Babur said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should intervene and take action against those involved in the agitation in the FBISE.

A senior official of FBISE, on condition of anonymity, said people who had held the press conference had attacked the staff of FBISE on March 14, injuring an employee.

He also said the FBISE had lodged an FIR against them, but the police were unwilling to arrest any of the culprits.

“FBISE remained open on Sunday, and all the roll number slips have been dispatched. Some elements have been asking us to withdraw the FIR. On the other hand, they are saying that Ms Khan, who has completed her five-year tenure, will join as the chairperson of FBISE again,” he said.

“If Ms Khan joins again, the employees will have no choice but to go on strike again, due to which SSC exams will definitely be disturbed,” he said.